Cup and lid using magnetic-based spill-proof seal

ABSTRACT

A cup and lid combination includes a container having an open top and a closed bottom. A grip is disposed at an exterior surface of the container. At least one container magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top of the container. A link assembly, coupled to the grip, the container, and the container magnet(s), links movement of the grip to movement of the container magnet(s). A drinking lid on the open top of the container has a hole. A closure element is coupled to the lid for movement towards and away from the hole. The closure element has a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled thereto. The container magnet(s) and lid magnet are positioned for magnetic interaction that controls the position of the closure element based on the position of the grip relative to the container&#39;s closed bottom or open top.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119, the benefit of priority from provisional application 62/578,561, with a filing date of Oct. 30, 2017, is claimed for this non-provisional application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to travel cups and mugs, and more particularly to a cup and lid that use magnetic force to provide a spill-proof seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Travel mugs or cups filled with hot or cold liquids go from home to car, and then on to the office, gym, etc., and vice versa, every day. Regardless of their design, the lid of a travel cup has an opening through which a user drinks. When not being held, these cups are set down on counters, dashboards, consoles, desks, etc. In general, the surfaces on which a travel cup sits are areas of high activity and/or can be sloped or uneven. As a result, travel cups are often knocked over. When this occurs, liquid in the cup flows through the cup's lid opening to create a spill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup and lid that seals the lid's drink opening until the cup is raised for purposes of taking a drink.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a cup and lid combination includes a liquid-holding container having an open top and a closed bottom. A grip is disposed at an exterior surface of the container for movement relative to the container. At least one container magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top of the container for movement relative to the container. A link assembly is coupled to the grip, the container, and the container magnet(s). The link assembly links movement of the grip to movement of the container magnet(s). A drinking lid is disposed on the open top of the container. The drinking lid has a hole. A closure element is coupled to the lid for movement towards and away from the hole. The closure element has a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled to the sealing element. The container magnet(s) and lid magnet are positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a first position of the closure element when the grip is closest to the container's closed bottom wherein the sealing element engages the hole. The container magnet(s) is(are) repositioned by the magnetic interaction when the grip is closest to the open top wherein movement of the closure element is away from the hole to thereby fix a second position of the closure element wherein the sealing element is disengaged from the hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded part cross-sectional view and part front view of a cup and lid combination incorporating a magnetic-based spill-proof seal system utilizing lateral movement of a magnet rack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded part cross-sectional view and part side view of the cup and lid combination illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isolated front view of the magnet rack illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded part cross-sectional view and part side view of a cup and a lid combination incorporating a magnetic-based spill-proof seal system utilizing a rotating magnet in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and illustrating the lid's drink hole in its sealed position; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded part cross-sectional view and part side view of the cup and lid combination illustrated in FIG. 4 with the lid's drink hole in its open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the combination of a cup 20 and lid 40 using a magnetic-based spill-proof seal system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced generally by numeral 10. Combination 10 is shown in an exploded view to clearly delineate the features associated with each of cup 20 and lid 40. The way that these features cooperate to form a spill-proof seal system when lid 40 is coupled to cup 20 will be illustrated and explained later herein. Coupling of lid 40 to the top of cup 20 can be accomplished in a variety of ways (e.g., press-fit, screwed on, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Cup 20 includes a liquid-holding container 22 that can be made from a variety of materials without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, container 22 can be fabricated using materials that provide thermal insulation for a liquid placed therein. Container 22 can also be a variety of shapes and sizes. Container 22 has an open top 22A and a closed bottom 22B. Disposed about a portion of the exterior surface of container 22 is an annular sleeve 24 that is also coupled to container 22 in a way that allows a fixed amount of axial travel of sleeve 24 along container 22 as indicated by two-headed arrow 26. As will be explained further below, sleeve 24 serves as a user's gripping surface or element when cup 20 is picked up or set down. It is to be understood that other types of finger or hand grips could be used in place of sleeve 24 without departing form the scope of the present invention.

Mounted on an exterior surface region of container 22 (e.g., in a recess 22C in a side wall of container 22) is a rack-and-pinion gear system that includes a rack gear 28 cooperating with a pinion gear 30. More specifically, rack gear 28 is mounted on a track 29 fixed to container 22 such that rack gear 28 can move one-dimensionally along track 29, e.g., in linear correspondence with the axial travel of sleeve 24 as will be explained further below. Pinion gear 30 is mounted on an axle 31 coupled to container 22 such that pinion gear 30 rotates on axle 31 in correspondence with one-dimensional movement of rack gear 28.

A magnet rack 32, shown in isolation in FIG. 3, is coupled to container 22 and is positioned for cooperation with pinion gear 30. More specifically, magnet rack 32 includes a base 32A with gear teeth 32B that engage the teeth of pinion gear 30. Coupled to or integrated with base 32A are magnets 32C and 32D. Magnets 32C and 32D are oriented such that their outboard ends present opposite polarities. In the illustrated embodiment, the outboard end of magnet 32C presents a north (“N”) pole and the outboard end of magnet 32D presents a south (“S”) pole.

Sleeve 24 can be coupled to rack gear 28 in a variety of ways without departing form the scope of the present invention. In the illustrated example, a sleeve-to-rack link/mount 34 is fixedly coupled to sleeve 24 and to rack gear 28. Accordingly, when sleeve 24 moves axially as indicated by arrow 26, rack gear 28 moves in linear correspondence with sleeve 24 to thereby rotate pinion gear 30. When pinion gear 30 rotates, magnet rack 32 moves laterally (e.g., linearly) as indicated by two-headed arrow 36. Rack gear 28, pinion gear 30, and magnet rack 32 are disposed between annular sleeve 24 and the outer surface of container 22. Size of the elements and spacing between them are exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

Lid 40 includes a hole 42 that one can sip, drink, or pour through. In terms of the present invention, lid 40 has a sip/drink/pour hole 42 that is sealed/unsealed predicated on the position of sleeve 24 that, in turn, moves magnet rack 32 and magnets 32C/32D. Coupled to lid 40 on a portion thereof that faces open top 22A is a closure element 44 that includes a mounting arm 44A, a sealing element 44B, and magnet 44C. A guide rail 46 is fixedly coupled to a portion of lid 40. (For clarity of illustration, guide rail 46 has been omitted from FIG. 2.) Mounting arm 44A is coupled to guide rail 46 such that mounting arm 44A can move along guide rail 46 as indicated by two-headed arrow 48.

When sleeve 24 is at its lowest point of axial travel (i.e., when cup 20 is resting on a surface 100 such that the force of gravity keeps sleeve 24 at its lowest point of axial travel where sleeve 24 is closest to closed bottom 22B), magnet 32C is positioned under magnet 44C. In order to push closure element towards hole 42 such that sealing element 44B rests/seals in hole 42, magnet 44C and 32C should engage each other repulsively when sleeve 24 is at its lowest point of axial travel. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the outboard end of magnet 44C presents a north (“N”) polarity to repel the north polarity of magnet 32C. When cup 20 is grasped by a user at sleeve 24 and raised up off surface 100, sleeve 24 and rack gear 28 move linearly/axially upward until sleeve 24 is repositioned to an axial location that is closest to open top 22A in advance of container 22 being lifted off surface 100 and/or as container 22 is being lifted off surface 100. As rack gear 28 moves linearly, pinion gear 30 rotates thereby causing magnet rack 32 to experience lateral movement (e.g., a linear movement perpendicular to axle 31) such that magnet 32D is moved into alignment with magnet 44C. When this occurs, magnets 32D and 44C attract by virtue of their aligned opposite polarities thereby moving closure element 44 away from hole 42 such that sealing element 44B disengages from hole 42.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 where a cup 50 is illustrated with lid 40. In this embodiment, the above-described magnet rack 32 is replaced with a single magnet 52 having a central portion that is mounted directly on axle 31 that supports rotation of pinion gear 30 as described above. More specifically, magnet 52 is fixedly mounted to axle 31 at a position in recess 22C of container 22 near the container's open top 22A. For clarity of illustration, the size of these elements and spacing there between is exaggerated. The outboard ends of magnet 52 present the magnet's opposing north (“N”) and south (“S”) polarities.

When sleeve 24 is at its lowest point of axial travel and closest to closed bottom 22B, pinion gear 30 is positioned such that the north (“N”) pole of magnet 52 opposes the north pole of magnet 44C thereby driving closure element 44 towards lid 40 such that sealing element 44B engages/seals hole 42 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Once again, guide rail 46 explained above and shown in FIG. 1 has been omitted for clarity of illustration. Then, when a user grasps sleeve 24 and lifts upward to raise sleeve 24 to its position closest to open top 22A, pinion gear 30 and magnet 52 rotate on axle 31 such that the south (“S”) pole of magnet 52 is moved into alignment with the north pole of magnet 44C for attraction there between. The resulting attraction force between magnets 44C and 52 draws closure element 44 away from lid 40 thereby disengaging sealing element 44B from hole 42.

The advantages of the present invention are numerous. A lid's sip/drink/pour hole is only exposed when a user purposefully lifts a cup to take a drink or pour out the liquid in the cup. At all other times to include when the cup is knocked over, the cup's grip or sleeve remains at its lowest point of axial travel such that the lid's closure element is sealed to the lid's drink hole.

Although the invention has been described relative to specific embodiments thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, the cup's sleeve could be replaced by a simple finger or hand grip coupled directly to the rack gear that allowed a user to move the rack gear when lifting the cup as described above. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A cup and lid combination, comprising: a liquid-holding container having an open top and a closed bottom; a sleeve disposed about an exterior surface of said container for movement relative to said container; at least one container magnet disposed adjacent to said open top of said container for movement relative to said container; a link assembly coupled to said sleeve, said container, and said at least one container magnet, said link assembly linking said movement of said sleeve to said movement of said at least one container magnet; a drinking lid disposed on said open top of said container, said drinking lid having a hole; and a closure element coupled to said lid for movement towards and away from said hole, said closure element having a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled to said sealing element, said at least one container magnet and said lid magnet being positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a first position of said closure element when said sleeve is closest to said closed bottom wherein said sealing element engages said hole, and said at least one container magnet being repositioned by said magnetic interaction when said sleeve is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix a second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 2. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a thermally insulating container.
 3. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said link assembly comprises: a rack gear coupled to said sleeve for movement in correspondence with said movement of said sleeve; and a pinion gear coupled to said container and said at least one container magnet, said pinion gear engaging said rack gear for rotation in correspondence with said movement of said rack gear, wherein said rotation of said pinion gear repositions said at least one container magnet when said sleeve is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix said second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 4. A cup and lid combination as in claim 3, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises: a base having a rack of gear teeth for engagement by said pinion gear; a first container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof; and a second container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof, wherein said outboard end of said first magnet and said outboard end of said second magnet present opposite magnetic polarities.
 5. A cup and lid combination as in claim 3, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises a single magnet coupled to said pinion gear for rotation therewith, said single magnet having opposing outboard ends presenting opposite magnetic polarities.
 6. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said magnetic interaction that fixes said first position of said closure element comprises magnetic repulsion.
 7. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said magnetic interaction that fixes said second position of said closure element comprises magnetic attraction.
 8. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises linear movement.
 9. A cup and lid combination as in claim 1, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises rotational movement.
 10. A cup and lid combination, comprising: a liquid-holding container having an open top and a closed bottom; a sleeve disposed about an exterior surface of said container for movement relative to said container; at least one container magnet disposed adjacent to said open top of said container for movement relative to said container; a link assembly coupled to said sleeve, said container, and said at least one container magnet, said link assembly linking said movement of said sleeve to said movement of said at least one container magnet; a drinking lid disposed on said open top of said container, said drinking lid having a hole; and a closure element coupled to said lid for movement towards and away from said hole, said closure element having a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled to said sealing element, said at least one container magnet and said lid magnet being positioned for a repulsive magnetic interaction to thereby fix a first position of said closure element when said sleeve is closest to said closed bottom wherein said sealing element engages said hole, and said at least one container magnet being repositioned by an attractive magnetic interaction when said sleeve is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix a second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 11. A cup and lid combination as in claim 10, wherein said container comprises a thermally insulating container.
 12. A cup and lid combination as in claim 10, wherein said link assembly comprises: a rack gear coupled to said sleeve for movement in correspondence with said movement of said sleeve; and a pinion gear coupled to said container and said at least one container magnet, said pinion gear engaging said rack gear for rotation in correspondence with said movement of said rack gear, wherein said rotation of said pinion gear repositions said at least one container magnet when said sleeve is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix said second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 13. A cup and lid combination as in claim 12, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises: a base having a rack of gear teeth for engagement by said pinion gear; a first container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof; and a second container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof, wherein said outboard end of said first magnet and said outboard end of said second magnet present opposite magnetic polarities.
 14. A cup and lid combination as in claim 12, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises a single magnet coupled to said pinion gear for rotation therewith, said single magnet having opposing outboard ends presenting opposite magnetic polarities.
 15. A cup and lid combination as in claim 10, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises linear movement.
 16. A cup and lid combination as in claim 10, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises rotational movement.
 17. A cup and lid combination, comprising: a liquid-holding container having an open top and a closed bottom; a grip disposed at an exterior surface of said container for movement relative to said container; at least one container magnet disposed adjacent to said open top of said container for movement relative to said container; a link assembly coupled to said grip, said container, and said at least one container magnet, said link assembly linking said movement of said grip to said movement of said at least one container magnet; a drinking lid disposed on said open top of said container, said drinking lid having a hole; and a closure element coupled to said lid for movement towards and away from said hole, said closure element having a sealing element and a lid magnet coupled to said sealing element, said at least one container magnet and said lid magnet being positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a first position of said closure element when said grip is closest to said closed bottom wherein said sealing element engages said hole, and said at least one container magnet being repositioned by said magnetic interaction when said grip is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix a second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 18. A cup and lid combination as in claim 17, wherein said link assembly comprises: a rack gear coupled to said grip for movement in correspondence with said movement of said grip; and a pinion gear coupled to said container and said at least one container magnet, said pinion gear engaging said rack gear for rotation in correspondence with said movement of said rack gear, wherein said rotation of said pinion gear repositions said at least one container magnet when said grip is closest to said open top wherein said movement of said closure element is away from said hole to thereby fix said second position of said closure element wherein said sealing element is disengaged from said hole.
 19. A cup and lid combination as in claim 18, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises: a base having a rack of gear teeth for engagement by said pinion gear; a first container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof; and a second container magnet coupled to said base and extending to an outboard end thereof, wherein said outboard end of said first magnet and said outboard end of said second magnet present opposite magnetic polarities.
 20. A cup and lid combination as in claim 18, wherein said at least one container magnet comprises a single magnet coupled to said pinion gear for rotation therewith, said single magnet having opposing outboard ends presenting opposite magnetic polarities.
 21. A cup and lid combination as in claim 17, wherein said magnetic interaction that fixes said first position of said closure element comprises magnetic repulsion.
 22. A cup and lid combination as in claim 17, wherein said magnetic interaction that fixes said second position of said closure element comprises magnetic attraction.
 23. A cup and lid combination as in claim 17, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises linear movement.
 24. A cup and lid combination as in claim 17, wherein said movement of said at least one container magnet relative to said container comprises rotational movement. 